# US 8,464,500 B2 · Process for reprocessing soiled animal bedding > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,500 B2 - Document ID: US8464500B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/653,288 - Filed: 2009-12-11 - Published: 2010-08-26 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-23 - Applicants: Shelly Ann Townsend - Inventors: Shelly Ann Townsend - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464500B2 ## CPC - A61L 2/18: Liquid substances - A01K 1/01: Removal of dung or urine {; Removal of manure from stables}(A01K1/015 takes precedence) - A01K 1/0155: {comprising organic material} - A61L 2/04: Heat (radiation A61L2/08) - A61L 2/186: Peroxide solutions - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS ## Abstract A process and system reprocesses soiled animal bedding material commingled with animal manure. The material is to remove a preponderance of the manure. The remaining soiled bedding is washed in water and a cleaning agent, rinsed and, optionally, bleached to restore color and appearance. The resulting material is dewatered and dried to reduce its moisture content and kill any remaining pathogens. After being cleaned and sanitized, the material may be reused as bedding or further processed into pellets or other products, such as manufactured fire logs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for reprocessing soiled animal bedding material commingled with manure to form cleaned bedding material, comprising in sequence the steps of: separating said soiled bedding material in a shaker to send at least a preponderance of said manure to a holding tank and a remainder of said soiled bedding to a cleaning tank; first washing said soiled bedding in said cleaning tank using a first washing solution comprising water and a cleaning agent, comprising first agitating the contents of said cleaning tank for a first agitating time; draining said first washing solution; bleaching said soiled bedding material with a bleaching solution comprising water and a bleaching agent, thereafter rinsing said soiled bedding with bleach rinse water; first rinsing said soiled bedding in said cleaning tank with first rinse water for a first rinsing period; draining said first rinse water; collecting waste water resulting from at least one of said washing, rinsing, or draining steps; neutralizing said bleaching solution after said bleaching step; and drying said bedding to form said cleaned bedding material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, further comprising the step of: dewatering said bedding preceding said drying. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A process as recited by claim 2, wherein said dewatering is carried out by centrifugally spinning said washed and rinsed bedding. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, further comprising the step of: packaging said cleaned bedding material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A process as recited by claim 2, wherein said dewatering is carried out by compressing said washed and rinsed bedding. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, wherein a ratio of a volume of water used in said first washing to a volume of said soiled bedding is at least 1:1. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A process as recited by claim 6, wherein said ratio is at least 2:1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A process as recited by claim 7, wherein said ratio is at least 3:1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, wherein said cleaning agent comprises a surfactant-containing detergent. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A process as recited by claim 9, wherein at least one tablespoon of said detergent is used for each gallon of said soiled bedding in said first washing solution. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A process as recited by claim 10, wherein at least two tablespoons of said detergent is used for each gallon of said soiled bedding in said first washing solution. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, further comprising the steps of: second washing said soiled bedding in said cleaning tank using a second washing solution of water and a cleaning agent, comprising second agitating the contents of said cleaning tank for a second agitating time and, thereafter draining said second washing solution; and thereafter second rinsing said soiled bedding in said cleaning tank with second rinse water for a second rinsing period and thereafter draining said second rinse water; and wherein said second washing is carried out after said first rinsing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A process as recited by claim 12, wherein a ratio of a volume of water used in said second washing to a volume of said soiled bedding is at least 1:1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A process as recited by claim 13, wherein a ratio of a volume of water used in said second washing to a volume of said soiled bedding is at least 2:1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A process as recited by claim 12, wherein said cleaning agent of said second washing solution comprises a surfactant-containing detergent. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A process as recited by claim 15, wherein at least one tablespoon of said detergent is used for each gallon of said soiled bedding in said second washing solution. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A process as recited by claim 16, wherein at least two tablespoons of said detergent is used for each gallon of said soiled bedding in said second washing solution. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, further comprising the steps of: after said first rinsing, transferring said soiled bedding from said cleaning tank to a second cleaning tank; second washing said soiled bedding in said second cleaning tank using a second washing solution of water and a cleaning agent, comprising second agitating the contents of said second cleaning tank for a second agitating time and thereafter draining said second washing solution; and thereafter second rinsing said soiled bedding in said second cleaning tank with second rinse water for a second rinsing period and thereafter draining said second rinse water. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, wherein said waste water is collected in a waste water holding tank. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A process as recited by claim 19, further comprising the step of: remediating said collected waste water. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, wherein said bleaching agent comprises a chlorine-containing bleaching agent. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A process as recited by claim 21, wherein said chlorine-containing bleaching agent is chlorine. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, wherein said bleaching is carried out as part of a washing step. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, further comprising the step of: collecting waste water resulting from said bleaching step. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, further comprising the step of: packaging said cleaned bedding material. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, further comprising the step of compacting said cleaned bedding material to form a compacted product. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A process as recited by claim 26, wherein said compacted product is formed as pellets. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) A process as recited by claim 26, wherein said compacted product is formed as briquettes. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) A process as recited by claim 26, wherein said compacted product is a manufactured log. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, further comprising the step of: composting said separated manure. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) A process as recited by claim 1, wherein said bedding material comprises wood shavings. ### Claim 32 A process for reprocessing soiled animal bedding material commingled with manure to form cleaned bedding material, comprising in sequence the steps of: separating said soiled bedding material in a shaker to send at least a preponderance of said manure to a holding tank and a remainder of said soiled bedding to a cleaning tank; first washing said soiled bedding in said cleaning tank using a first washing solution comprising water and a cleaning agent, comprising first agitating the contents of said cleaning tank for a first agitating time; draining said first washing solution; first rinsing said soiled bedding in said cleaning tank with first rinse water for a first rinsing period; draining said first rinse water; drying said bedding to forth said cleaned bedding material; and compacting said cleaned bedding material to form a compacted product, wherein said compacted product is formed as pellets. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) A process as recited by claim 32, further comprising the step of: packaging said cleaned bedding material. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) A process as recited by claim 32, further comprising the step of: composting said separated manure. ### Claim 35 A process for reprocessing soiled animal bedding material commingled with manure to form cleaned bedding material, comprising in sequence the steps of: separating said soiled bedding material in a shaker to send at least a preponderance of said manure to a holding tank and a remainder of said soiled bedding to a cleaning tank; first washing said soiled bedding in said cleaning tank using a first washing solution comprising water and a cleaning agent, comprising first agitating the contents of said cleaning tank for a first agitating time; draining said first washing solution; first rinsing said soiled bedding in said cleaning tank with first rinse water for a first rinsing period; draining said first rinse water; drying said bedding to form said cleaned bedding material; and compacting said cleaned bedding material to form a compacted product, wherein said compacted product is formed as briquettes. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) A process as recited by claim 35, further comprising the step of: packaging said cleaned bedding material. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) A process as recited by claim 35, further comprising the step of composting said separated manure. ### Claim 38 A process for reprocessing soiled animal bedding material commingled with manure to form cleaned bedding material, comprising in sequence the steps of: separating said soiled bedding material in a shaker to send at least a preponderance of said manure to a holding tank and a remainder of said soiled bedding to a cleaning tank; first washing said soiled bedding in said cleaning tank using a first washing solution comprising water and a cleaning agent, comprising first agitating the contents of said cleaning tank for a first agitating time; draining said first washing solution; first rinsing said soiled bedding in said cleaning tank with first rinse water for a first rinsing period; draining said first rinse water; drying said bedding to form said cleaned bedding material; and compacting said cleaned bedding material to form a compacted product, wherein said compacted product is a manufactured log. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) A process as recited by claim 38, further comprising the step of: packaging said cleaned bedding material. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) A process as recited by claim 38, further comprising the step of: composting said separated manure.